Which outcome is most associated with patient-centered medical home or integrated care?

• A. Improved continuity of care.
• B. Increased fragmentation.
• C. Higher costs with no benefit.
• D. Reduced access to primary care.

Answer: (A)

The central idea is that patient-centered medical home and integrated care aim to keep care coordinated and continuous over time, centered on the patient. When a consistent primary care team tracks a patient across visits, other providers, and settings, it creates ongoing relationships, clearer care plans, and smoother transitions. That combination reduces gaps, duplications, and miscommunications, which is why improved continuity of care is the outcome most closely associated with these models.

Fragmentation is the opposite of what these models strive for; they’re built to stitch together care so it isn’t piecemeal. Higher costs with no benefit would run counter to the value-driven focus of PCMH, which seeks to prevent unnecessary expenses through better coordination and prevention. Reduced access to primary care would undermine the whole purpose, as increasing access—same-day appointments, extended hours, and proactive management—is a core feature of these approaches.